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1 Birr - Menelik II Pattern
| Issuer | Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1892 |
| Type | Coin pattern |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | ደግማዊ ፡ ምኒልክ ፡ ንጉሠ ፡ ነገሥት ፡ ዘኢትዮጵያ። (Translation: Menelik II King of Kings of Ethiopia) |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | ሞዓ ፡ አንበሳ ፡ ዘእምነገደ ፡ ይሁዳ። (Translation: Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah) |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
This is a pattern strike, never approved for circulation — Menelik II was simultaneously negotiating with both French and Swiss minting interests in the early 1890s, and several competing designs were submitted for evaluation before the silver birr coinage was finalized. The Paris Mint ultimately won the contract. Bronze was the obvious choice for a pattern of this weight: cheap to strike, easy to inspect for die quality, and expendable.
1892 corresponds to Ethiopian year 1884 under the Ge'ez calendar, a detail that occasionally creates confusion in attribution.